Now I'm not sure to be honest. File Expert is available for free from the Amazon app store and simple to install and use.

Is there anyone out there with 6.2.1 who can test how File Expert is working and if it's still needed or not?

The concept I'm having trouble with is this:

With the Kindle (Keyboard or 3) that I have and the previous model (Kindle 2), all you do to sideload is plug it to your PC via USB and your PC's OS identifies the Kindle as an external drive and then you can drag files to the documents folder of the Kindle and if the files are a compatible format (like MOBI) they show up in the book list and are readable.

It should really work the same way. I don't know why the reader app doesn't open mobi files by default. It can clearly read them, and the Kindle's default format is really just mobi anyway. I've no clue why Amazon decided that users should have to jump through hoops to get these files to work on the Fire.

With the Kindle (Keyboard or 3) that I have and the previous model (Kindle 2), all you do to sideload is plug it to your PC via USB and your PC's OS identifies the Kindle as an external drive and then you can drag files to the documents folder of the Kindle and if the files are a compatible format (like MOBI) they show up in the book list and are readable.

Can it also be done this same way with a Kindle Fire?

Yes. Put the ebooks in Documents or Books via USB and the Kindle Reader will see them. They might show up under docs, but they will be in the catologue.

Amazon didn't clearly think ahead. They thought that everyone would sideload books via usb which will show up immediately after you hit disconnect. If you try to sideload via LAN or Dropbox or another similar method you have to either restart when done or open them in File Expert available either through Amazon or the developer's website.

This is the only way they will show up on the shelves. You can put the books in either the Books or Documents folder that part doesn't matter. The FE app force closes when I open all books at once but it works because the books show up on the shelf afterward.

The first time you do it the program will ask what app to open the books with just choose Kindle and make sure check the open by default box and then afterward it will open in Kindle by default. Now you wont see any program open as it's done in the background but it will have worked as the books will be on your shelves afterwards.

So does plugging the Fire into your PC via USB and then dragging files to the documents folder work out of the box?

YES. Forget all the other chatter for a moment as people seem to be getting way off topic and thinking of stuff that doesn't matter to your case. Simply connect the Fire via USB to your PC, transfer your mobi to the Documents folder on the Fire. That is it. To open the sideloaded mobi on the Fire select Docs then select the mobi you sideloaded. It works almost exactly like the Kindle 3's.

YES. Forget all the other chatter for a moment as people seem to be getting way off topic and thinking of stuff that doesn't matter to your case. Simply connect the Fire via USB to your PC, transfer your mobi to the Documents folder on the Fire. That is it. To open the sideloaded mobi on the Fire select Docs then select the mobi you sideloaded. It works almost exactly like the Kindle 3's.

Hi, so on a side note, I just wanted to add a different sideloading technique. It requires the use of a file explorer. I use ES File Explorer; it's easy to set up a network connection. If you have an android phone I suggest sideloading the version from Google's app store to the Kindle. It's far better than the Amazon store version (and far better than any other explorer app I've tried).

So, after deleting the [PDOC] tag and reconverting, transfer the new .mobi file(s) using ES File Explorer to the Documents folder on the "SD card." Next, find the Kindle app in the Kindle's application list and Force Stop it. Then just go back into the Books section, and the newly transferred book(s) will populate at the bottom.

This works much faster than rebooting the Kindle after transferring, and it works better (IMO) than the File Expert method. It's also much more convenient than having to plug in every time you want to transfer a book.

Hope this helps someone.

Last edited by deadman875; 05-05-2012 at 04:10 AM.
Reason: Just realized this thread was 5 months old. Oh well.

I've found that the best way to "side load" books on the Fire is to send the books to your Kindle Fire email address. When you do this, the books automatically show up (in the Documents section, alas), there is no need for a reboot, and Whispersync works fully. Furthermore, when you do this, the book becomes part of your Archived Items so it can be downloaded to other Kindle devices as well.

I've found that the best way to "side load" books on the Fire is to send the books to your Kindle Fire email address. When you do this, the books automatically show up (in the Documents section, alas), there is no need for a reboot, and Whispersync works fully. Furthermore, when you do this, the book becomes part of your Archived Items so it can be downloaded to other Kindle devices as well.

Hope this helps.

That is okay as far as it goes, except that Personal Documents service does not support KF8 format yet.

Moreover, just because that's often 'best' for some situations, it doesn't obviate the desire to download directly from web sites directly (Gutenberg, Dropbox etc.) or as email attachments, without having to resort to using file managers and restarting. All of these alternatives should work more conveniently also.

That is okay as far as it goes, except that Personal Documents service does not support KF8 format yet.

Moreover, just because that's often 'best' for some situations, it doesn't obviate the desire to download directly from web sites directly (Gutenberg, Dropbox etc.) or as email attachments, without having to resort to using file managers and restarting. All of these alternatives should work more conveniently also.

You don't have to restart. Just force close the Kindle app and it will add the new books. If you use the dropbox app you can export the books to folder you want without using a File Manager.

I agree though I wish it was alot more simpler than that. The only good thing about 6.3 is the force close trick. I no longer have File Expert on my KF because I just use force close instead.

The PDoc service is what is mostly buggy. White covers, doesn't sync from Kindle to Fire and bookmarks formatting issues. Still I use it mostly due to having other Kindles I need to sync with.